Self-administered acupressure can improve insomnia

Researchers from Hong Kong suggest self?administering acupressure as a low?cost alternative treatment for insomnia. In their study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, they assessed the short?term effects of self?administered acupressure in alleviating insomnia.

The researchers recruited 31 people with insomnia for the randomized controlled trial.

The participants received two lessons on either self-administered acupressure or sleep hygiene education.

Participants in the self-administered acupressure group learned to practice self-administered acupressure every day for four weeks.

Participants in the comparison group were advised to follow sleep hygiene education.

The researchers then measured the effects of the interventions on insomnia.

The results showed that participants in the self-administered acupressure group had a significantly lower Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score compared to those in the sleep hygiene education group during the eighth week.

Moreover, participants in the self-administered acupressure group continue to practice acupressure even after completing the lessons.

The team concluded that self?administered acupressure taught in a short training course may potentially be used to improve insomnia.